Difference between revisions of "Maritime History"

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[[Category:General Reference]]
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[[image:Tallship.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Submitted by Guinevere]][[Category:General Reference]]
 
[[Category:Military and Maritime History]]
 
[[Category:Military and Maritime History]]
 +
__TOC__
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<br><br>
 +
'''Sailors'''
  
[[image:Tallship.jpg|right|150px|thumb|Submitted by Guinevere]]
+
The term sailor is commonly used to describe any man who went to sea, whether in the Royal Navy, Merchant Navy, Coastguards, Lifeboat Service, fishing fleet or as a pilot, privateer or a single boatman. If a man went to sea he was a sailor.
  
==General Links==
+
'''Mariners'''
 +
 
 +
The term mariner can be synonymous with sailor but is more likely to mean that the man was concerned with the navigation of the vessel. Master mariners were those skilled in navigation. A Master Mariner would probably have a Mate or Master's ticket and be on the Seaman's Register at the National Archives. Mariners would come under the umbrella heading of the Merchant Navy.
 +
 
 +
The main source for tracing details of merchant seamen and shipping, especially from the 18th century onwards, are the archives of the Registry of Shipping and Seamen (RSS). These records are held in a number of places. Some are with the RSS in Cardiff, some with the [http://www.nmm.ac.uk/index.php National Maritime Museum] at Greenwich and [http://www.nas.gov.uk/default.asp National Archives of Scotland and Ireland]. However, the majority are held in The National Archives in Kew. These records are broken down into categories and an explanation of how these can be viewed can be found on [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=257&j=1 The National Archives].
 +
 
 +
Organised service records do not commence until 1835 when The Merchant Shipping Act of that year required masters of all ships to file Agreements and Crew Lists with the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen.
 +
 
 +
For those researching mariner ancestors who are experiencing difficulty locating them on the England and Wales census, [http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/UKCensuses.html Seamen on British Censuses] contains a good explanation of the requirements regarding enumeration and may assist in helping you to locate those missing people!
 +
 
 +
The [http://www.nmm.ac.uk/memorials/Index.cfm National Maritime Museum ~ Maritime Memorials] is another good source of information for those researching this field.
 +
 
 +
'''Also see [[Military Research]]'''
 +
<br><br>
 +
==General Information==
  
 
*[http://www.nmm.ac.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.2594 National Maritime Museum's Guide to Researching Family History from Maritime Records]
 
*[http://www.nmm.ac.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.2594 National Maritime Museum's Guide to Researching Family History from Maritime Records]
 +
 +
*[http://www.mariners-l.co.uk Researching the Mariners and Ships of the Merchant Marine and the World's Navies]
 +
 +
*[http://www.angelfire.com/de/BobSanders/Site.html Tracing British Seamen & their ships]
 +
 +
*[http://rmhh.co.uk/mariners.html UK Mariners Site - All Things Nautical]
 +
 +
*[http://www.boat-links.com/index.html  John's Nautical and Boatbuilding Pages]
 +
 +
*[http://www.bruzelius.info/Nautica/Nautica.html The Maritime History Virtual Archives]
 +
 +
*[http://rmhh.co.uk/mariners.html Merchant Navy and Royal Navy Information]
 +
  
 
*[http://www.reach.net/~sc001198/Lloyds.htm Lloyds Register of Ships 1764-2003]
 
*[http://www.reach.net/~sc001198/Lloyds.htm Lloyds Register of Ships 1764-2003]
Line 12: Line 42:
 
*[http://www.history.ac.uk/gh/capintro.htm Index to Lloyds Captains' Register]
 
*[http://www.history.ac.uk/gh/capintro.htm Index to Lloyds Captains' Register]
  
*[http://rmhh.co.uk/mariners.html UK Mariners Site- Links For All Things Nautical]
+
*[http://www.eogen.com/CensusRecordsUK Vessels & Enumeration in Census Records]
  
*[http://www.pbenyon.plus.com/Naval.html Late 18th, 19th and early 20th Century Naval and Naval Social History]
+
*[http://www.hotkey.net.au/~jwilliams4/mariner9.htm Index of Ships' Captains] Australia and New Zealand
  
*[http://www.boat-links.com/index.html  John's Nautical and Boatbuilding Pages]  
+
*See also [[Emigration_and_Immigration|'''Emigration and Immigration''']] for Shipping Lists and more Maritime Resources.
  
*[http://www.bruzelius.info/Nautica/Nautica.html The Maritime History Virtual Archives]
 
  
*[http://www.eogen.com/CensusRecordsUK Vessels & Enumeration in Census Records]
+
*'''[[World War One]]'''
  
*[http://www.nmm.ac.uk/memorials/ Maritime Memorials For Those That Perished at Sea]
+
*'''[[World War Two]]'''
  
*[http://www.oceanlinermuseum.co.uk/ The Ocean Liner Virtual Museum]
 
  
*[http://www.titanicarchive.com/History.aspx The Titanic]
 
  
 +
*[http://www.lewcock.net/index.php?option=com_magazine&func=show_edition&id=15&Itemid=90 Family Tree Forum Online Magazine ~ Volume Two: April 2008] had a nautical theme.
 +
<br><br>
  
 
==The Royal Navy==
 
==The Royal Navy==
  
'''[[The Royal Navy]]'''
+
*'''[[The Royal Navy]]'''
 +
<br><br>
 +
==The Merchant Navy==
 +
 
 +
====Merchant Navy Records====
  
 +
*'''[[Military_Research#Merchant_Navy_Research|Records of Merchant Seamen]]'''
  
==Merchant Shipping==
 
  
'''[[Records of Merchant Seamen]]'''
+
*[http://www.iwm.org.uk/server/show/nav.00100p005004 How to trace Merchant Navy personnel]
  
 +
*[http://www.nmm.ac.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.569 How to trace Merchant Mariners, mates and engineers who served in the Merchant Navy]
 +
 +
*[http://www.crewlist.org.uk/Merchant seafarers on British registered ships between 1861 and 1913]
 +
 +
*[http://www.irishmariners.ie/ Irish Merchant Seamen 1918-1921]
  
 
*[http://www.merchant-mariners.co.uk/ The Federation Of Merchant Mariners]
 
*[http://www.merchant-mariners.co.uk/ The Federation Of Merchant Mariners]
  
*[http://www.mightyseas.co.uk/ Through Mighty Seas, Merchant sailing ships of the North West of England]  
+
*[http://www.mightyseas.co.uk/Merchant sailing ships of the North West of England]  
  
 
*[http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/WWI%20LOSSES%20INDEX.htm British Merchant Ship Losses in World War I]
 
*[http://www.mariners-l.co.uk/WWI%20LOSSES%20INDEX.htm British Merchant Ship Losses in World War I]
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*[http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/merchant_navy_losses.htm Merchant Navy Losses in World War 2]
 
*[http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/merchant_navy_losses.htm Merchant Navy Losses in World War 2]
  
*[http://www.crewlist.org.uk/ The Crew List index project - Merchant seafarers on British registered ships between 1861 and 1913]
+
<br><br>
  
*[http://www.iwm.org.uk/server/show/nav.00100p005004 How to trace Merchant Navy personnel]
+
==Coastguards and Coastal Defences==
  
*[http://www.nmm.ac.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.569 How to trace Merchant Mariners, mates and engineers who served in the Merchant Navy]
+
The Coastguard began as Customs Officers whose job was to apprehend smugglers trying to import goods without paying duty. As early as the 17th century there were small fleets of customs boats patrolling local waters in an effort to prevent smuggling.
  
*[http://www.irishmariners.ie/ Irish Merchant Seamen 1918-1921]
+
A detailed history of HM Coastguard and Records can be found at the [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/RdLeaflet.asp?sLeafletID=54 National Archives ~ Coastguard] and in County Record Offices.
  
 +
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Her_Majesty's_Coastguard HM Coastguard]
  
==Old Shipping Companies and Old Nautical Terms==
+
*[http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/Coastguards/ British Coastguards 1841 - 1901 ]
  
*[http://www.shawsavillships.co.uk/index.htm The White Star, Shaw Savill and Albion Lines]
+
*[http://www.hansonclan.co.uk/coastguards_1.htm History of The Coastguard With Particular Reference to Wick and Newbiggin-by-the-Sea]
  
*[http://www.shipsofcalmac.co.uk/cmbhistory.asp The Caledonian Macbrayne Fleet]
+
*[http://www.nazeman.fsnet.co.uk/page3.html History of Walton on the Naze Coastguard 1851-1901]
  
*[http://www.unioncastlestaffregister.co.uk/ The Union Castle Line - Staff Register]
+
*[http://www.coastguard.ukf.net/history.html A Brief History of The Tenby Coastguard Service]
  
*[http://www.dpandl.co.uk/dpl_mainintro.html?shipping_history.html=dpl_history.html The Dundee Perth and London Shipping Company]
+
*[http://www.isleofbarra.com/for-mariners/coastguard/history.html History of The Isle of Barra Coastguard]
  
*[http://www.seaview.co.uk/cruiselines/pando/PandO_History.html History of the P & O Shipping Company]
+
*[http://www.intute.ac.uk/socialsciences/cgi-bin/fullrecord.pl?handle=PORT1060946625 The Irish Coastguard Service From The 18th Century to The Early 20th Century]
  
*[http://www.manchesterliners.co.uk/index.htm Manchester Liners Old Shipmates Association]
+
*[http://www.martello-towers.co.uk/ The South Coast Martello Towers]
  
*[http://www.steam-packet.com/SteamPacket/About-Us/ The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company]
+
*[http://www.landguard.com/ Landguard Fort, Felixtowe]
  
*[http://www.shipbrook.com/jeff/seamansgrammar/index.html The Seaman's Grammar and Dictionary, 1691]
+
*[http://www.theneedlesbattery.org.uk/ The Needles Battery]
  
*[http://www.bruzelius.info/Nautica/Etymology/English/Lever(1808).html Lever's 1908 Dictionary of Sea Terms]
+
*[http://www.newhavenfort.org.uk/history.htm Newhaven Fort]
  
*[http://www.pbenyon1.plus.com/KR&AI/Abbreviations.html Kings Regulations & Admiralty Instructions - 1913. Abbreviations ]
+
*[http://personal.telefonica.terra.es/web/wynne/coastguard.htm Preventive Boat Service personnel 1816 - 1819]
  
 +
*[http://www.btinternet.com/~palmiped/pillboxes/pillboxes.htm WW2 Coastal Defences Salthouse, Kelling & Weybourne, North Norfolk  ]
  
==Place Specific==
+
*[http://www.nothefort.org.uk/ The Nothe Fort, Weymouth]
  
 +
*[http://www.palmerstonforts.org.uk/ The Palmerston Forts Society] Forts in Portsmouth Area
  
*[http://www.portcities.org.uk/ Port Cities uk, Bristol, Hartlepool, Liverpool, London & Southampton]
+
*[http://www.shorehamfort.co.uk/ Shoreham Fort]
  
*[http://www.gloucesterdocks.me.uk/people/pilotage/channelpilots.htm Bristol Channel Pilots]
+
*[http://www.whitstablescene.co.uk/forts.htm The Maunsell Sea Forts, Whitstable]
 +
<br><br>
  
*[http://www.brixhamsailingtrawlers.co.uk/ Brixham Heritage Sailing Trawlers Archive]
+
==The Fishing Industry==
  
*[http://www.helendoe.co.uk/ Tales of the Maritime Heritage of Cornwall]
+
Deep sea fishing was the most dangerous occupation of the 19th Century and is still high on the list today. Men signed on at a fixed rate per voyage or for a share of the catch.
  
*[http://www.plymouthdata.info/Royal%20Dockyard.htm Royal Dockyard Devonport]
+
The fishing fleet was part of the Merchant Navy. Coastal County Record Offices sometimes house extensive collections of information about the fishing fleets based in their ports.
  
*[http://www.grantontrawlers.com/index.htm Granton and Leith Trawlers]
+
Details of these may be found in [http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/a2a/ A2A - Access to Archives] or, more likely, on individual County Record Office websites.
  
*[http://www.societe-jersiaise.org/alexgle/JMSBS.html Jersey Seaman's Benefit Society]
+
*[http://www.hullwebs.co.uk/content/l-20c/conflict/ww1/trawlers/intro.htm Hull Trawler Losses of World War One]
  
*[http://www.mersey-gateway.org/ The History of Maritime Liverpool]
+
*[http://www.brixhamsailingtrawlers.co.uk/ The Brixham Sailing Trawlers Database]
  
*[http://www.liverpoolpilots.com/ Liverpool Pilots]
+
*[http://www.burtonbradstock.org.uk/History/History%20of%20Fishing/History%20of%20Fishing.htm History of Fishing at Burton Bradstock]
  
*[http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime/ Merseyside Maritime Museum]
+
*[http://www.nelincs.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/6BB72BF2-D1E3-4B8C-A3B7-DF8A7A30925A/0/FamilyHistoryFishingArchives.pdf A Guide to Family History in Hull and Grimsby Fishing Archives] (pdf file)
  
*[http://www.old-merseytimes.co.uk/logbook.html Merseyside Shipping Snippets]
+
*[http://www.hastingsfish.co.uk/index.htm The Fishing Industry in Hastings]
  
*[http://www.seayourhistory.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=47&Itemid=113 History of Portsmouth Dockyard]  
+
*[http://www.polperro.org/fishing.html The Polperro Fishing Industry]
  
*[http://www.swmaritime.org.uk/ South West Maritime History Society]
+
*[http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/fulltext/ws1923/index.htm Irish Sea Herring Fisheries in the 18th and 19th Century]
  
*[http://www.bargetrust.org/ The Thames Sailing Barge Trust]
+
*[http://www.scotfishmuseum.org/history.html A History of the Scottish Fishing Industry]
  
*[http://www.thamespilot.org.uk/ixbin/hixclient.exe?a=file&p=thames&f=thames.htm Thames Pilot]
+
*[http://www.mearns.org.uk/stonehaven/genfish.htm The Stonehaven Fishing Industry]
  
*[http://www.cardiffmariners.org.uk/ Cardiff Mariners]
+
*[http://www.mcaorals.co.uk/Fraserburgh%20Boats.htm The History of Fraserburgh's Fishing Fleet]
  
*[http://www.anglesey.info/Holyhead_Maritime_History.htm The Maritime History of Holyhead, inc. Ships Lost at War]
+
*[http://www.buckieheritage.org/ Buckie and District Fishing Heritage]
  
*[http://www.rhiw.com/y_mor/hanes_llongau_llyn/hotmap/hotmap.htm Maritime Llyn and the Sea.The Men, Ships and Ports of Llyn, Wales]
+
*[http://www.milfordtrawlers.org.uk/ Milford Haven Trawlers]
  
*[http://www.swanseamariners.org.uk/ Swansea Mariners]
+
*[http://www.c-e-n.org/herringgirls.htm Herring Girls]
  
 +
*[http://www.explorenorth.com/whalers/ The Whalers' Heritage Project]
  
==Lighthouses==
 
  
*[http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/Lighthouses/ Lighthouse Personnel in England, Wales and The Channel Islands c. 1790-1911]
+
'''Articles from Family Tree Forum's Online Magazine:'''
  
*[http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/interactive/gallery/index.html Trinity House's Gallery of Lighthouses]
+
*[http://www.lewcock.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=226&Itemid=90&ed=15 The call of the sea]
  
*[http://www.pbenyon1.plus.com/RN/Lighthouse_Maps/Lighthouses_North.html Map of UK Lighthouses in 1900, Scotland, Northern England and North of Ireland]
+
*[http://www.lewcock.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=141&Itemid=81 Herrings and vegetables]
  
*[http://www.pbenyon1.plus.com/RN/Lighthouse_Maps/Lighthouses_South.html Map of UK Lighthouses in 1900, Southern England, The Channel Islands and South of Ireland]
+
*[http://www.lewcock.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=115&Itemid=81 William Christmas Capps and son]
  
*[http://www.nlb.org.uk/historical/historical.htm History of Scottish Lighthouses]
+
*[http://www.lewcock.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=215&Itemid=81 Toot]
 +
<br><br>
  
*[http://www.bellrock.org.uk/ Bellrock Lighthouse (off the Angus Coast)]
+
==Lifeboats==
  
*[http://www.oldhigherlighthouse.com/history.html History of the Older Higher Lighthouse, Portland Bill]
+
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a charity and lifeboats are manned by volunteers.
  
*[http://www.happisburgh.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=31 A Brief History of Happisburgh Lighthouse]
+
The RNLI grew out of the loose groups of salvagers which could be found in most ports.
  
 +
When vessels were in trouble at sea salvers, often sailors or fishermen, would go to the rescue and claim salvage rights of the vessel and its cargo.
  
==Lifeboats==
+
Many local branches of the RNLI have records of volunteers and rescues but do make a charge for searches. Some records can also be found in County Record Offices and local newspaper archives are another useful source.
  
 
*[http://www.rnli.org.uk/who_we_are/the_heritage_trust/grace_darling_museum Grace Darling Museum]  
 
*[http://www.rnli.org.uk/who_we_are/the_heritage_trust/grace_darling_museum Grace Darling Museum]  
Line 147: Line 191:
  
 
*[http://www.whitby-yorkshire.co.uk/lifeboat/lifeboats.htm A Site Dedicated to The Lifeboat Men of Whitby Who Lost Their Lives in 1861]
 
*[http://www.whitby-yorkshire.co.uk/lifeboat/lifeboats.htm A Site Dedicated to The Lifeboat Men of Whitby Who Lost Their Lives in 1861]
 +
 +
 +
'''Article from Family Tree Forum's Online Magazine:'''
 +
 +
*[http://ftfmagazine.lewcock.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=46:the-john-mewse-mug&catid=35:august-2008 The John Mewse Mug]
  
  
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*[http://www.whitstablelifeboat.org.uk/ Whitstable]
 
*[http://www.whitstablelifeboat.org.uk/ Whitstable]
 +
<br><br>
 +
 +
==Trinity Pilots and Lighthouses==
  
 +
All ports need sea pilots to guide vessels safely through local hazards and into harbour. Historically these used to be local men who knew the seas around their home ports. Pilots were also needed on large navigable rivers. Samuel Pepys had concerns about the quality of Port of London Pilots and was given permission to devise a test and the Pilots were brought under the aegis of Trinity House.
  
==Coastguards and Coastal Defences==
+
Trinity Pilots were licensed by the [http://www.portcities.org.uk/london/server/show/ConNarrative.64/chapterId/1414/Trinity-House.html Corporation of Trinity House]. When a Pilot applied to be licensed, he had to have British nationality, have several years' experience as a watch-keeping officer of a ship, hold a foreign-going Master Mariner's certificate (or Naval Certificate of Service) and be under 35 years of age.
 +
 
 +
Records are held at The Guildhall Library, although these suffered from fire in 1666 and 1714 and from bombing in 1940. Some court minutes survive from 1660, but the majority of other records in the series are only present from the 19th century. Staff employed at the Guildhall Library are unable to undertake personal searches. The functions of Trinity House, as well as surviving records and how to access them is explained on the website at [http://www.history.ac.uk/gh/thouse2.htm Guildhall Library Manuscipts Section - Trinity House Family History Sources].
 +
 
 +
Qualified pilots could claim a set fee so unofficial local pilots continued to thrive up until the 20th Century. In Lowestoft, for example, these men were know as Brumigen Pilots. Registers of Pilots can usually be found in County Record Offices.
 +
 
 +
*[http://www.gloucesterdocks.me.uk/people/pilotage/channelpilots.htm Bristol Channel Pilots]
 +
 
 +
*[http://www.liverpoolpilots.com/ Liverpool Pilots]
 +
 
 +
*[http://www.thamespilot.org.uk/ixbin/hixclient.exe?a=file&p=thames&f=thames.htm Thames Pilot]
 +
 
 +
*[http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/Lighthouses/ Lighthouse Personnel in England, Wales and The Channel Islands c. 1790-1911]
 +
 
 +
*[http://www.trinityhouse.co.uk/interactive/gallery/index.html Trinity House's Gallery of Lighthouses]
 +
 
 +
*[http://www.pbenyon1.plus.com/RN/Lighthouse_Maps/Lighthouses_North.html Map of UK Lighthouses in 1900, Scotland, Northern England and North of Ireland]
 +
 
 +
*[http://www.pbenyon1.plus.com/RN/Lighthouse_Maps/Lighthouses_South.html Map of UK Lighthouses in 1900, Southern England, The Channel Islands and South of Ireland]
 +
 
 +
*[http://www.nlb.org.uk/historical/historical.htm History of Scottish Lighthouses]
  
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Her_Majesty's_Coastguard HM Coastguard]
+
*[http://www.bellrock.org.uk/ Bellrock Lighthouse (off the Angus Coast)]
  
*[http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/Coastguards/ British Coastguards 1841 - 1901 ]
+
*[http://www.oldhigherlighthouse.com/history.html History of the Older Higher Lighthouse, Portland Bill]
  
*[http://www.hansonclan.co.uk/coastguards_1.htm History of The Coastguard With Particular Reference to Wick and Newbiggin-by-the-Sea]
+
*[http://www.happisburgh.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=31 A Brief History of Happisburgh Lighthouse]
 +
<br><br>
 +
==Shipbuilding==
  
*[http://www.nazeman.fsnet.co.uk/page3.html History of Walton on the Naze Coastguard 1851-1901]
+
*[http://www.englandsnortheast.co.uk/Shipbuilding.html The Shipbuilding Industry of North East England 1790-1899]
  
*[http://www.coastguard.ukf.net/history.html A Brief History of The Tenby Coastguard Service]
+
*[http://www.berwickshipyard.com/ Berwick on Tweed Shipyard]
  
*[http://www.isleofbarra.com/for-mariners/coastguard/history.html History of The Isle of Barra Coastguard]
+
*[http://www.clydesite.co.uk/articles/index.asp Clydeside Shipbuilding History]
  
*[http://www.intute.ac.uk/socialsciences/cgi-bin/fullrecord.pl?handle=PORT1060946625 The Irish Coastguard Service From The 18th Century to The Early 20th Century]
+
*[http://www.lakestay.co.uk/shipbuild.html The Whitehaven Shipbuilding Industry]
  
*[http://www.martello-towers.co.uk/ The South Coast Martello Towers]
+
*[http://www.chdt.org.uk/Discover/The_Dockyards_History/History.html Chatham Dockyard]
  
*[http://www.landguard.com/ Landguard Fort, Felixtowe]
+
*[http://www.titanicinbelfast.com/welcome.aspx Titanic in Belfast ~ Harland & Wolff]
  
*[http://www.theneedlesbattery.org.uk/ The Needles Battery]
+
*[http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~handwapprentices/ Harland and Wolff Apprentices]
 +
<br><br>
  
*[http://www.newhavenfort.org.uk/history.htm Newhaven Fort]
+
==Shipping Companies==
  
*[http://www.btinternet.com/~palmiped/pillboxes/pillboxes.htm WW2 Coastal Defences Salthouse, Kelling & Weybourne, North Norfolk  ]
+
*[http://www.oceanlinermuseum.co.uk/ The Ocean Liner Virtual Museum]
  
*[http://www.nothefort.org.uk/ The Nothe Fort, Weymouth]
+
*[http://www.shawsavillships.co.uk/index.htm The White Star, Shaw Savill and Albion Lines]
  
*[http://www.palmerstonforts.org.uk/ The Palmerston Forts Society] Forts in Portsmouth Area
+
*[http://www.shipsofcalmac.co.uk/cmbhistory.asp The Caledonian Macbrayne Fleet]
  
*[http://www.shorehamfort.co.uk/ Shoreham Fort]
+
*[http://www.unioncastlestaffregister.co.uk/ The Union Castle Line - Staff Register]
  
*[http://www.whitstablescene.co.uk/forts.htm The Maunsell Sea Forts, Whitstable]
+
*[http://www.dpandl.co.uk/dpl_mainintro.html?shipping_history.html=dpl_history.html The Dundee Perth and London Shipping Company]
  
 +
*[http://www.seaview.co.uk/cruiselines/pando/PandO_History.html History of the P & O Shipping Company]
  
==Smuggling and Shipwrecks==
+
*[http://www.manchesterliners.co.uk/index.htm Manchester Liners Old Shipmates Association]
  
*[http://www.smuggling.co.uk/history.html A History of British Smuggling]
+
*[http://www.steam-packet.com/SteamPacket/About-Us/ The Isle of Man Steam Packet Company]
  
*[http://www.dorsetsmugglers.co.uk/ A History of Smuggling in East Dorset]
+
*[http://www.biship.com/ British India Steam Navigation]
 +
<br><br>
  
*[http://www.heritagepress.polperro.org/smuggling.html The History of Smuggling in Polperro]
+
==Shipwrecks==
  
*[http://www.burtonbradstock.org.uk/History/Smuggling/Smuggling.htm Smuggling in and around Burton Bradstock]
+
*[http://www.titanicarchive.com/History.aspx The Titanic]
  
 
*[http://www.shipwrecksofscotland.com/ Great British Shipwrecks]
 
*[http://www.shipwrecksofscotland.com/ Great British Shipwrecks]
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==The Fishing Industry==
+
'''Articles from Family Tree Forum's Online Magazine:'''
 +
 
 +
*[http://www.lewcock.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=219&Itemid=90&ed=15 R.M.S. Titanic]
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 +
<br><br>
 +
 
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==Smuggling==
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*[http://www.smuggling.co.uk/history.html A History of British Smuggling]
  
*[http://www.hullwebs.co.uk/content/l-20c/conflict/ww1/trawlers/intro.htm Hull Trawler Losses of World War One]
+
*[http://www.dorsetsmugglers.co.uk/ A History of Smuggling in East Dorset]
  
*[http://www.brixhamsailingtrawlers.co.uk/ The Brixham Sailing Trawlers Database]
+
*[http://www.heritagepress.polperro.org/smuggling.html The History of Smuggling in Polperro]
  
*[http://www.burtonbradstock.org.uk/History/History%20of%20Fishing/History%20of%20Fishing.htm History of Fishing at Burton Bradstock]
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*[http://www.burtonbradstock.org.uk/History/Smuggling/Smuggling.htm Smuggling in and around Burton Bradstock]
  
*[http://www.nelincs.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/6BB72BF2-D1E3-4B8C-A3B7-DF8A7A30925A/0/FamilyHistoryFishingArchives.pdf A Guide to Family History in Hull and Grimsby Fishing Archives] (pdf file)
 
  
*[http://www.hastingsfish.co.uk/index.htm The Fishing Industry in Hastings]
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'''Articles from the Family Tree Forum Online Magazine:'''
  
*[http://www.polperro.org/fishing.html The Polperro Fishing Industry]
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*[http://ftfmagazine.lewcock.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=232:watch-the-wall-my-darling&catid=48:may-2009 Watch the wall my darling]
  
*[http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/fulltext/ws1923/index.htm Irish Sea Herring Fisheries in the 18th and 19th Century]
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*[http://ftfmagazine.lewcock.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=228:turncoat&catid=48:may-2009 Turncoat]
  
*[http://www.scotfishmuseum.org/history.html A History of the Scottish Fishing Industry]
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*[http://ftfmagazine.lewcock.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=235:were-you-born-in-yapton&catid=48:may-2009 Were you born in Yapton?]
 +
<br><br>
  
*[http://www.mearns.org.uk/stonehaven/genfish.htm The Stonehaven Fishing Industry]
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==Ports and Harbours==
  
*[http://www.mcaorals.co.uk/Fraserburgh%20Boats.htm The History of Fraserburgh's Fishing Fleet]
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*[http://www.portcities.org.uk/london  Maritime London]
  
*[http://www.buckieheritage.org/ Buckie and District Fishing Heritage]
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*[http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/alpha_lists/pierlist.htm Piers of England]
  
*[http://www.milfordtrawlers.org.uk/ Milford Haven Trawlers]
+
*[http://www.portcities.org.uk/ Port Cities uk, Bristol, Hartlepool, Liverpool, London & Southampton]
  
 +
*[http://www.brixhamsailingtrawlers.co.uk/ Brixham Heritage Sailing Trawlers Archive]
  
==Shipbuilding==
+
*[http://www.helendoe.co.uk/ Tales of the Maritime Heritage of Cornwall]
  
*[http://www.englandsnortheast.co.uk/Shipbuilding.html The Shipbuiliding Industry of North East England 1790-1899]
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*[http://www.plymouthdata.info/Royal%20Dockyard.htm Royal Dockyard Devonport]
  
*[http://www.berwickshipyard.com/ Berwick on Tweed Shipyard]
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*[http://www.grantontrawlers.com/index.htm Granton and Leith Trawlers]
  
*[http://www.clydesite.co.uk/articles/index.asp Clydeside Shipbuilding History]
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*[http://www.societe-jersiaise.org/alexgle/JMSBS.html Jersey Seaman's Benefit Society]
  
*[http://www.lakestay.co.uk/shipbuild.html The Whitehaven Shipbuilding Industry]
+
*[http://www.mersey-gateway.org/ The History of Maritime Liverpool]
  
*[http://www.chdt.org.uk/Discover/The_Dockyards_History/History.html Chatham Dockyard]
+
*[http://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/maritime/ Merseyside Maritime Museum]
  
*[http://www.titanicinbelfast.com/welcome.aspx Titanic in Belfast~Harland & Wolff]
+
*[http://www.old-merseytimes.co.uk/logbook.html Merseyside Shipping Snippets]
  
*[http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~handwapprentices/ Harland and Wolff Apprentices]
+
*[http://www.seayourhistory.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=47&Itemid=113 History of Portsmouth Dockyard]  
  
 +
*[http://www.swmaritime.org.uk/ South West Maritime History Society]
  
==Miscellaneous==
+
*[http://www.bargetrust.org/ The Thames Sailing Barge Trust]
  
*[http://library.puc.edu/pitcairn/bounty/crew.shtml Biographies of The Crew of The Bounty]
+
*[http://www.cardiffmariners.org.uk/ Cardiff Mariners]
  
*[http://www.hotkey.net.au/~jwilliams4/mariner9.htm Index of Ships' Captains] Australia and New Zealand
+
*[http://www.anglesey.info/Holyhead_Maritime_History.htm The Maritime History of Holyhead]
  
*[http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/alpha_lists/pierlist.htm Piers of England]
+
*[http://www.rhiw.com/y_mor/hanes_llongau_llyn/hotmap/hotmap.htm Maritime Llyn and the Sea.The Men, Ships and Ports of Llyn, Wales]
  
*[http://www.adls.org.uk/ The Association of Dunkerque Little Ships]
+
*[http://www.swanseamariners.org.uk/ Swansea Mariners]
 +
<br><br>
  
 +
Back to [[:Category:Military and Maritime History|Military and Maritime History]]
  
 
Back to [[Main Page]]
 
Back to [[Main Page]]
  
 
Back to [[General History]]
 
Back to [[General History]]

Latest revision as of 09:25, 12 September 2022

Submitted by Guinevere



Sailors

The term sailor is commonly used to describe any man who went to sea, whether in the Royal Navy, Merchant Navy, Coastguards, Lifeboat Service, fishing fleet or as a pilot, privateer or a single boatman. If a man went to sea he was a sailor.

Mariners

The term mariner can be synonymous with sailor but is more likely to mean that the man was concerned with the navigation of the vessel. Master mariners were those skilled in navigation. A Master Mariner would probably have a Mate or Master's ticket and be on the Seaman's Register at the National Archives. Mariners would come under the umbrella heading of the Merchant Navy.

The main source for tracing details of merchant seamen and shipping, especially from the 18th century onwards, are the archives of the Registry of Shipping and Seamen (RSS). These records are held in a number of places. Some are with the RSS in Cardiff, some with the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich and National Archives of Scotland and Ireland. However, the majority are held in The National Archives in Kew. These records are broken down into categories and an explanation of how these can be viewed can be found on The National Archives.

Organised service records do not commence until 1835 when The Merchant Shipping Act of that year required masters of all ships to file Agreements and Crew Lists with the Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen.

For those researching mariner ancestors who are experiencing difficulty locating them on the England and Wales census, Seamen on British Censuses contains a good explanation of the requirements regarding enumeration and may assist in helping you to locate those missing people!

The National Maritime Museum ~ Maritime Memorials is another good source of information for those researching this field.

Also see Military Research

General Information






The Royal Navy



The Merchant Navy

Merchant Navy Records




Coastguards and Coastal Defences

The Coastguard began as Customs Officers whose job was to apprehend smugglers trying to import goods without paying duty. As early as the 17th century there were small fleets of customs boats patrolling local waters in an effort to prevent smuggling.

A detailed history of HM Coastguard and Records can be found at the National Archives ~ Coastguard and in County Record Offices.



The Fishing Industry

Deep sea fishing was the most dangerous occupation of the 19th Century and is still high on the list today. Men signed on at a fixed rate per voyage or for a share of the catch.

The fishing fleet was part of the Merchant Navy. Coastal County Record Offices sometimes house extensive collections of information about the fishing fleets based in their ports.

Details of these may be found in A2A - Access to Archives or, more likely, on individual County Record Office websites.


Articles from Family Tree Forum's Online Magazine:



Lifeboats

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution is a charity and lifeboats are manned by volunteers.

The RNLI grew out of the loose groups of salvagers which could be found in most ports.

When vessels were in trouble at sea salvers, often sailors or fishermen, would go to the rescue and claim salvage rights of the vessel and its cargo.

Many local branches of the RNLI have records of volunteers and rescues but do make a charge for searches. Some records can also be found in County Record Offices and local newspaper archives are another useful source.


Article from Family Tree Forum's Online Magazine:


Many other Lifeboat stations have their own history sites, often with old Crew Lists and Photographs - these include:-



Trinity Pilots and Lighthouses

All ports need sea pilots to guide vessels safely through local hazards and into harbour. Historically these used to be local men who knew the seas around their home ports. Pilots were also needed on large navigable rivers. Samuel Pepys had concerns about the quality of Port of London Pilots and was given permission to devise a test and the Pilots were brought under the aegis of Trinity House.

Trinity Pilots were licensed by the Corporation of Trinity House. When a Pilot applied to be licensed, he had to have British nationality, have several years' experience as a watch-keeping officer of a ship, hold a foreign-going Master Mariner's certificate (or Naval Certificate of Service) and be under 35 years of age.

Records are held at The Guildhall Library, although these suffered from fire in 1666 and 1714 and from bombing in 1940. Some court minutes survive from 1660, but the majority of other records in the series are only present from the 19th century. Staff employed at the Guildhall Library are unable to undertake personal searches. The functions of Trinity House, as well as surviving records and how to access them is explained on the website at Guildhall Library Manuscipts Section - Trinity House Family History Sources.

Qualified pilots could claim a set fee so unofficial local pilots continued to thrive up until the 20th Century. In Lowestoft, for example, these men were know as Brumigen Pilots. Registers of Pilots can usually be found in County Record Offices.



Shipbuilding



Shipping Companies



Shipwrecks


Articles from Family Tree Forum's Online Magazine:



Smuggling


Articles from the Family Tree Forum Online Magazine:



Ports and Harbours



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